Portable exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, the Portable Exercise Apparatus includes a support pad, a resistance band, and a strap member. In operation, a user may place either their hand or foot in the strap member. The resistance band provides the tensile resistance to increase strength with respect to the muscle groups which are stretching the resistance band. 
     In an embodiment, the Portable Exercise Apparatus may include a retractable mechanism. With the retractable mechanism, the resistance band will be securely housed within the support pad in a state of rest.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the area of fitness equipment, and more particularly pertains to a portable exercise apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One activity whose appeal and necessity transcends cultures, countries, and demographics is exercise. People from all walks of life exercise for a number of reasons. Some people exercise for health benefits.

Others exercise to increase their overall cardiovascular fitness. Moreover, elite athletes exercise to increase strength and power. While other non-athletes merely exercise to lose weight and improve their overall physical appearance.

To fill this need for exercise, many large gyms are provided with a wide assortment of machines and equipment. Many of these machines are very large, heavy, and expensive. Their size and expensive makes the purchase thereof to be cost prohibitive for many people. In turn, the necessity to drive to those gyms can be inconvenient in terms of time, and cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the Portable Exercise Apparatus includes a support pad, a resistance band, and a strap member. In operation, a user may place either their hand or foot in the strap member. The resistance band provides the tensile resistance to increase strength with respect to the muscle groups which are stretching the resistance band.

In an embodiment, the Portable Exercise Apparatus may include a retractable mechanism. With the retractable mechanism, the resistance band will be securely housed within the support pad in a state of rest.

The features and advantages described in this summary and the following detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a unique Portable Exercise Apparatus 100 is used to enable users to strengthen targeted muscle groups, particularly in the lower body. The present invention is described in enabling detail below.

For the purposes of the following described embodiments, the term “appendage” shall refer to either a person's arms or legs. In various implementations of the embodiments described herein, a user may place his or her feet or hands in the straps for exercise.

In addition, it should be noted here that the following embodiments can be equally expedient for use with smaller muscle groups such as the forearms, abdominal muscles, gastrocnemius muscles, etc. It will be appreciated the skilled artisan that the following embodiments may be utilized to target a panoply of muscle groups.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a Portable Exercise Apparatus 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the Portable Exercise Apparatus 100 includes Support Pad 101, a Resistance Band 103 and a strap member 102.

The Support pad has a longitudinal orifice projecting from a left distal end 301 to a right distal end 302. Within this orifice a section or portion of the resistance band is disposed. In one embodiment, a pair of bushings 325, 326 are used to minimize frictional abrasion between the resistance band with the support pad.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, only a portion or section of the resistance band is disposed within the longitudinal orifice of the support pad in that particular embodiment. In another embodiment the resistance band may have loose ends as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The resistance band is used for the purpose of imparting resistance to a user's appendage. The resistance band has a first distal end and a second distal end. The first distal end 205 and the second distal 206 end have male attachment members 207 sized to engage with female grooves 210 found on the strap member in one embodiment.

It should be noted here that a plurality of resistance bands of varying lengths, and other measurements may impart more or less resistance. As such, some implementations may include several sizes, lengths, etc. of resistance bands to enable a user a range of levels at which the user may exercise.

FIG. 2 illustrates that in an alternative embodiment, a circular Resistance Band 200 that may engage with a connecting rod 201. The connecting rod has a strap end 202 and a band end 203. The strap end is coupled with the strap member, and the band end is coupled with the resistance band. In one embodiment, the band end of the connecting rod is coupled to the resistance band through a connecting ring 204. The connecting ring is disposed circumferentially around the resistance band. Several connecting rods of varying lengths may be incorporated in implementations of an embodiment.

The support pad in an embodiment is comprised of a soft, durable, flexible, and resilient material. In various embodiments the support pad may be comprised alternately by foam, rubber, or cotton.

In one embodiment, the support pad has a left distal end 301, and a right distal end 302. FIG. 13 illustrates that from a side elevation view, the support pad is elliptically shaped to enable a user to roll over the support pad. FIG. 2 further illustrates that the support pad may incorporate bushings 325, 326 which are disposed in the longitudinal orifice on the left and right distal ends respectively to minimize surface abrasion between the support pad and the resistance band.

FIGS. 3 and 10 illustrate the Portable Exercise Apparatus 100 in operation. A user may kneel one knee on the support pad. With the other leg, the user will place his or her foot in the strap member. Subsequently, a user may vertically translate the strap member along with the mechanically-coupled resistance band away from their body.

FIG. 11 illustrates a Retractable Resistance Band Apparatus 500. In this embodiment, there is a frontal orifice 501 for housing the retraction band assembly 502. In its resting state, the entire resistance band is housed in the support pad. FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of a support pad which shows that the orifice extends from the front of the support pad to the center wherein the retraction band assembly is disposed.

The Retraction Band Assembly is comprised of a first shell 503, a second shell 504, a spool 506, and a spiral spring 505. In one embodiment, the spiral spring is biased against the spool to generate the retraction energy to pull the resistance band inside of the support pad.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms herein disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A Portable Exercise Apparatus comprising: a Support Pad with a longitudinal orifice bored therethrough, at least one resistance band for the purpose of imparting resistance to a user's appendage; a section of the resistance band is disposed within the orifice; the resistance band is comprised of a first end and a second end.)
 2. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end and the second end of the resistance band further comprises a male attachment member.
 3. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a strap member for mechanical engagement with a user's appendage; the strap member having female receiving grooms sized to mate with the male attachment members of the resistance band.
 4. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the Support Pad is selected from the group consisting of: rubber, foam, and cotton.
 5. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connecting rod; the connecting rod is comprised of a strap end and a band end; the strap end is coupled with the strap member; the band end is coupled with the resistance band.
 6. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connecting ring; the connecting ring is disposed circumferentially around the resistance band and is coupled with the band end of the connecting rod.
 7. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a Retraction Band Assembly for retracting the resistance band within the longitudinal orifice of the support pad; the retraction band assembly comprises a spool, a spindle, and a spiral spring; the spiral spring is biased against the spool; the retraction band assembly is disposed within the support pad.
 8. The Portable Exercise Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least two bushings for minimizing abrasion between the resistance bands and the orifice of the Support Pad.
 9. A Retractable Resistance Band Apparatus comprises: a support pad with a frontal orifice, a retraction band assembly housed within the support pad, a resistance band, and a strap member; the retraction band assembly is comprised of a first shell, a second shell, a spool, and a spiral spring; the first shell and the second shell are sized to mate with each other and house the spiral spring and the spool; the spiral spring is biased against the spool to generate the retraction energy to pull the resistance band inside of the support pad.
 10. The retractable resistance band apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bushing sized to mate with the frontal orifice. 